mmarshall

Yes, Steve is correct on the RAV-4....Camry platform it is. Should have remembered that. Sorry, JDR76, I'll stand corrected on that one. (I've been writing about cars for so long that is sometimes gets difficult now to remember everything, and I sometimes make typos).

Och

iTrader: (3)

Well, I owned one of those 7 series, so I know, lol. The first generation idrive was lousy, but it's understandable. It became much better with the 2nd generation, and yes, the **** has been copied by pretty much everyone, except Lexus with their awful touchpad/mouse, and Tesla with their cheap touch screen.

LeX2K

Good list. Mini is highly over looked in automotive history the car became the inspiration for every FWD platform we have today. On the original RAV4 it was a mix between Camry and Corolla the engine and drivetrain first seen on the Camry and Celica All-Trac.

mmarshall

Thanks.

The Mini did indeed influence most of the later FWD designs, although some of them, like GM's 1966 Toronado/Eldorado, and some Renault designs, still went with Longitudinal engines, or, like Subaru, with horizontal flat-engines. The Subaru flat-engines, BTW, with their output-shafts in the rear, are one reason why their AWD drive systems are so simple and effective, and easier to repair. They don't have to use added hardware to re-route the torque backwards, which, all else equal, means fewer parts, lower weight, simpler mechanics, and the "Symmetrical" left-to-right balance that Subaru likes to use in their ads, along with the low center of gravy of the flat-cylinder engines.

Toys4RJill

How is the Ford F series not on the list?

Lincoln Navigator was very influential

Och

iTrader: (3)

The Ford F series, as well as out pick ups, has very little place in world history, it is strictly an American thing. The minimum threshold for intellect in America is not buying a pick up.

Toys4RJill

Give me a break. All the great innovation comes from America. . Best selling vehicle is the F series

Och

iTrader: (3)

It only sells in America, it is absolutely irrelevant elsewhere in the world.

Toys4RJill

‘America is what matters. Without US innovation, the world would be very backwards.

Porsche 911
Toyota Corolla

i agree with Chrysler Minivan. Same with Tesla S

SW17LS

But if there were no Model S, there would be no Model 3. The Model S was the first mass produced EV that really cought on, and launched what is the modern EV.

Not sure why that matters. There are lots of vehicles that sell in other countries that are absolutely irrelevant here.

mmarshall

Ford's pickup trucks go back to 1917, when the first one was done off the Model T's frame. The F-series has sold very well over the years, but, aside from maybe the Twin-I-Beam independent front suspension introduced in 1964, and the conversion to an aluminum body a few years ago (IMO, at least), the F-Series did not really add very much to the state of truck design.



The Navigator, initially, sold mainly to celebrities and NFL/NBA athletes. It was a status-symbol more than a real advance in truck/SUV engineering. The latest Navigator, with its handsome styling and vastly-improved interior, is more of an advance than past-generations were. But it is certainly not worthy, IMO, of being on the Top Ten All-Time List..

Same with the Escalade. Until the very latest new version (which, like the latest Navigator, is at least a significant advancement), it was little more than a converted Bling-Truck than anything else...and the original one wasn't even that...it had a cheap interior for something in that class.

SW17LS

You're not choosing cars based on how "good" they were lol, its about what cars had the most significant impact on the industry as a whole...which were influential.

Another one that deserves to be on the list is the Ford Taurus.

Toys4RJill

I agree. But Taurus is totally defunct now. I think some modern relevance should be sort of considered as well. Both sales, popularity as well as engineering should sort of all be considered or weighed.

mmarshall

I did not discount the Model S...in fact, like I said, you probably have at least somewhat of a point. But the Model S was a lot of cash........many people, especially outside of the wealthy D.C. and similar areas, simply could not afford to fork over that kind of $$$$ and still keep food on the table. The Model 3 solved much of that....in fact, IMO, the Model 3 probably has had much of the same effect in providing affordable BEVs for the masses as the original Model T, which I wrote about on the list, originally did, a century earlier, for gas-engined cars.

JeffKeryk

And if there were no Roadster, there would be no Model S...
All good.

I would argue that no other car company has had the effect on the industry as Tesla since Henry's achievements...
Now that '64 GTO... OMG!